Player Watch Player Watch: Archie Gray

[Dazzazzad]

I make that 1576 minutes (not including stoppage time) since 1st December, or the equivalent to 17.5 full 90 minute matches.


That's madness to be expected of anyone, for an 18 year old it's insanity.

It's a lot but he clearly has a hell of an engine. He was a runner wasn't he? Last season at 17 he played a shade under 4000 minutes.

 

[bbunc]

It is blindingly obvious that his whole skill set is suited to playing in midfield or at least the centre of the pitch where he has 360 degree options on where he can turn to keep possession and play passes, it also leans towards his great reading of the game off the ball rather than him defending 1v1 against quicker wingers being his main defensive duty. I’m sorry but it is extremely obvious where he will end up playing.

I actually don’t think this is blindingly obvious. I agree his highest and best use will not be FB. I’m not sure if he’s ultimately a CB or a CM though.

id be perfectly happy to see him get minutes in CM to start getting some evidence. But I’m not sure we really know about his ability to receive ball back to goal / 360 degree and his ability to cover large swatches of the pitch positionally yet.

 

[McFlash]

Could you post the clip of it? I saw someone say the on here but been unable to find it.

The way Ange is, it wouldn't surprise me if he was taking the piss, due to the fact we had to play him there due to injuries.

Let's not forget, he played mostly (if not exclusively) at CM in preseason and chose to play an AM (Donley) at LB.

Also, @Trix said there is no way we are paying the money we paid for him for a young FB.

I heard it on 5Live, I think after the Brentford game.
Must admit that it made think "what?!" because I didn't think that he was signed as a FB at all and that's the first time I've heard any mention of it.

 

[E17yid]

Even though it was a joke he did say we signed Archie with him wanting to be a midfielder but look where he’s ended up. I can’t imagine when we made the pitch to Archie that we were saying “hey mate, we’re going to get you to play in every position across the back line but not once in MF”

 

[faze_coys]

I actually don’t think this is blindingly obvious. I agree his highest and best use will not be FB. I’m not sure if he’s ultimately a CB or a CM though.

id be perfectly happy to see him get minutes in CM to start getting some evidence. But I’m not sure we really know about his ability to receive ball back to goal / 360 degree and his ability to cover large swatches of the pitch positionally yet.

This. He definitely wont be a high level fullback but ive been impressed with him at CB, and it might be that he develops and ends up better there than in CM. We cant be sure hell make the DM we are crying for from what weve seen from him so far, but hed probably cruise in the Sarr role.

 

[spurs mental]

how many times have you seen him play in midfield?
He played fullback at Leeds I believe for most of last season after Ayling was injured.
We have no idea how well he would do in that position for us

Responding here as its more relevant to the thread.

I'd say we can speculate having watched Archie over the course of the season, how calm he is on the ball, how good he is technically, how he reads the game well and how he's very positionally aware for his age, that he'll absolutely be a really good midfielder.

But we won't know if he doesn't get the chance to play there.

 

[kernowspurscoach1977]

Responding here as its more relevant to the thread.

I'd say we can speculate having watched Archie over the course of the season, how calm he is on the ball, how good he is technically, how he reads the game well and how he's very positionally aware for his age, that he'll absolutely be a really good midfielder.

But we won't know if he doesn't get the chance to play there.

He will get the chance to play there - but at this time he is filling in and helping the squad: he will only become a far better player by learning other positions and playing in them:

 

[Silky Skills]

At the Leeds match tonight

 

[For the love of Spurs]

He’s not really a right back and I was surprised Ange choose today to either rotate Porro or drop him for Gray.

Doesn’t have the pace for a RB role in my view, looked a bit nervous when he played there against wingers, done great at CB but he does look like a midfielder in how he plays.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

At the Leeds match tonight

Would have likely never seen Archie in a Spurs shirt if it wasn't for that big Leeds collapse towards the end of last season.

He would have likely gone for Declan Rice level of money after year or two in the PL.

 

[samsonlevi]

I know over the last 6+months since we signed Archie there have been some reports that we will be going in for his younger brother “Harry Gray” who is a 16 year old striker for Leeds youth team.

He's meant to be just as talented as Archie, but as a striker rather than a CM.

However, I haven’t seen anything on this for a few months now….

does anyone know if we are interested and what the latest situation is with Harry?

 

[branchie]

I know over the r last 6+months since we signed Archie there have been some reports that we will be going in for his younger brother “Harry Gray” who is a 16 year old striker for Leeds youth

He's meant to be just as talented as Archie, but a striker instead.

but I haven’t seen anything on this for a few months now….

does anyone know if we are interested?

He's been injured. Just back training I think

 

[Cochise]

In another thread someone said Frank at Brentford presented to Archie a plan where he would be a #8 for two seasons before replacing Norgaard as the DM.

I think any minutes are useful for him at this level, but you'd have to say that any plans in that vein we may have had for him this year have probably gone to shit.

Probably still beneficial that he has played across the backline though.

 

[spurmin]

He's been injured. Just back training I think

Archie was at the Leeds Sunderland game last night. Maybe visiting.

 

[michaelj70]

Archie was at the Leeds Sunderland game last night. Maybe visiting.

Winner in fergie time

 

[Ron Burgundy]

He’s not really a right back and I was surprised Ange choose today to either rotate Porro or drop him for Gray.

Given the options we have at RB, I hope we don’t see him there again, unless in something of a bind.

He can do a job there, but his talents are suited to the middle, for sure.

I think he’ll have learned a lot playing at CB. But it’s time to give him a go in midfield IMO, and he can shift back to CB as required ie during a game, tactical switches etc. but with Danso and Davies as cover, I’d prefer him to start getting time where it looks like his long term future will be

Whether he’s ready for 6 is another matter as Bergvall has really started To settle in that 8 role

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Given the options we have at RB, I hope we don’t see him there again, unless in something of a bind.

He can do a job there, but his talents are suited to the middle, for sure.

I think he’ll have learned a lot playing at CB. But it’s time to give him a go in midfield IMO, and he can shift back to CB as required ie during a game, tactical switches etc. but with Danso and Davies as cover, I’d prefer him to start getting time where it looks like his long term future will be

Whether he’s ready for 6 is another matter as Bergvall has really started To settle in that 8 role

Agree.

It's a shame we are out of the FA cup as I feel that would have maybe given him an opportunity for a run out at 6 against a lower league side.

Hopefully Ange decides to start bringing him on at 6 later on in matches. Ideally he gets that experience this season ready to move there full time next season and we move Biss on.

 

[$hoguN]

He has done enough to earn a start at 6 over Bissouma and Bentancur tbh

 

[Ron Burgundy]

He has done enough to earn a start at 6 over Bissouma and Bentancur tbh

I would argue that Rodri's done enough to merit sticking with him at 6 as a starter - Gray should be his understudy, to be rotated in and out as appropriate.

Bissouma has done enough at 6 to tell me he's not a 6! At least not in this system, and not with any consistency anyway. I'm OK with him as a reserve 8 - I think he's quite a good sub actually

 

[TOLBINY]

He's been injured. Just back training I think

Sounds like our type of player!